Ice jams cause floods on Fox RIver

OTTAWA -- Because of rising water and a growing ice jam, the La Salle County Emergency Management Agency has declared the Fox River within the county a disaster area.

The area covered by the declaration filed Wednesday stretches from Ottawa north to the village of Millington on the Kendall County line.

Ottawa's flood plain manager, Mike Sutfin, said Thursday the ice jam was 25 feet high and was continuing to grow.

LaSalle County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Mike Jobst said about 20 households had been evacuated because of the flooding -- most of them on the east side of the river.

The Fox River at Ottawa was at 25ˆ½ feet Thursday, 13ˆ½ feet above flood stage. Sutfin said it was expected to crest at about 30 feet.